The authorities of Michigan, a state located in the northeast of the United States, are analyzing a multiple shooting that occurred this Friday in a rural area, which has left a total of six dead, including the presumed shooter, located after a large police deployment.
In a message disseminated on their social networks, the State Police has indicated that around 11:40 (local time) they initially found three lifeless bodies and one person in critical condition inside a house in the municipality of Lake Township, in Missaukee County. According to the official version, the suspect, identified as Chad Hickman, 39 years old, fled the scene before the agents arrived, which triggered an intense tracking operation in the area.
Hours later, the agents located the suspect's car in the vicinity of a wooded area in Caldwell Township. Upon entering the forest, they found Hickman's corpse alongside that of a fourth victim and, later, the security forces found the lifeless body of a fifth person in another house in the same county, an event that they have linked to the same violent episode.
"This situation is heartbreaking for the community and a challenge for investigators (...) We remain committed to conducting a thorough investigation and will provide updates as new information becomes available," clarified in a press conference Lieutenant Ashley Miller of the Michigan State Police.
For now, the possible motive for the attack is unknown and the authorities have not yet revealed the identity of the deceased individuals.